Bar code scanner and method

Abstract

A scanner for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto to a host computer includes a scanning apparatus for optically scanning bar code labels and for providing an electrical signal in response thereto, and a decoding circuit, responsive to the scanning apparatus for translating the electrical signal into a digital signal. A microprocessor, responsive to the decoding circuit, controls operation of the scanner and translates the digital signal into data to be provided to the associated host computer under control of control characters. The scanner further includes a non-volatile random access control memory in which control characters are stored, and an interface, connected to the host computer and to the microprocessor, for transferring data from the microprocessor to the host computer and for transferring control characters from the host computer to non-volatile random access control memory via the microprocessor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A scanner for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto to a host computer, comprising: scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical signal in response thereto,   decoding means, responsive to said scanning means for translating said electrical signal into a digital signal,   a microprocessor means, responsive to said decoding means, for controlling operation of said scanner and for translating said digital signal into data to be provided to the associated host computer under control of control characters,   a non-volatile random access control memory in which control characters are stored, and   interface means, connected to said host computer and to said microprocessor means, for transferring data from said microprocessor means to said host computer and for transferring control characters from said host computer to non-volatile random access control memory via said microprocessor means.   
     
     
       2. The scanner of claim 1 in which said non-volatile random access control memory comprises an electrically erasable programmable read only memory. 
     
     
       3. The scanner of claim 1 in which said interface means comprises an optically isolated interface. 
     
     
       4. The scanner of claim 2 in which said non-volatile random access control memory comprises an EEPROM memory device. 
     
     
       5. The scanner of claim 1 in which said control characters are character sets which when read by the scanner indicate that two bar code labels are associated with the same item. 
     
     
       6. The scanner of claim 1 further comprising an audible signal generator and in which said central characters define the volume of the audible signal produced by said audible signal generator. 
     
     
       7. The scanner of claim 1 further comprising an audible signal generator and in which said control characters define the frequency of the audible signal produced by said audible signal generator. 
     
     
       8. The scanner of claim 1 in which said control characters define the rate of transfer of data and control characters between said host computer and said interface means. 
     
     
       9. A scanner for scanning bar code labels on products presented to the scanner and for providing the data from the bar code labels to a host computer, comprising: scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical signal in response thereto,   decoding means, responsive to said scanning means for translating said electrical signal into a digital signal,   a non-volatile random access control memory in which a plurality of sets of control characters are stored, said sets of control characters defining characters which, if detected on a pair of successively scanned labels, indicate that the labels are affixed to the same product and further indicate which is the first and which is the second of the label pair,   microprocessor means, responsive to said decoding means, for controlling operation of said scanner and for translating said digital signal into data to be provided to the associated host computer under control of control characters, and   interface means, connected to said host computer and to said microprocessor means, for transferring data from said microprocessor means to said host computer and for transferring control character sets from said host computer to non-volatile random access control memory via said microprocessor means.   
     
     
       10. The scanner of claim 9 in which said non-volatile random access control memory comprises an electrically erasable programmable read only memory. 
     
     
       11. The scanner of claim 9 in which said interface means comprises an optically isolated interface. 
     
     
       12. The scanner of claim 10 in which said non-volatile random access control memory comprises an EEPROM memory device. 
     
     
       13. The scanner of claim 10 in which said non-volatile random access control memory comprises an NOVRAM memory device. 
     
     
       14. A method of programming a bar code scanner of the type which optically scans bar code labels, said scanner including a non-volatile control memory in which a plurality of sets of control characters are stored, said sets of control characters defining characters which, if detected on a pair of successively scanned labels, indicate that the labels are affixed to the same product and further indicate which is the first and which is the second of the label pair, comprising the steps of: (a) connecting a data source to said scanner;   (b) transmitting a plurality of sets of control characters to said scanner from said data source; and   (c) storing said plurality of sets of control characters in said non-volatile control memory.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of: (d) interrogating said scanner non-volatile control memory and comparing the sets of control characters stored therein with the previously transmitted control characters.